An elegant youthful treatment takes this kitchen from the narrow to comfortable

Find out more in our Home & Design section of spring 2025 here.

Reinventing a kitchen in a small imprint can be a challenge. But Sophia Lee, founder, CEO and main designer of Sophia Lee, tackled this 150 square feet space with zeal.

Lee has decided to maximize the usefulness and efficiency while mixing the design of the kitchen with the traditional style of the house, a colonial from the 1940s at Whitefish Bay. The previous renovations had stripped the part of all the original details, so that wooden beams were installed, providing an architectural element while making the space larger.

In a small space, each choice must be carefully taken into account. Here, Lee explains how she sailed in the decision -making process, resulting in comfortable but very functional cuisine.

Embrace the color

“Classic cuisine does not need to be white!” Said Lee, who chose the land of Sherwin Williams for the cabinets. “It can be intimidating to choose a more daring shade, especially in a small space, but the result shows that you can create a timeless kitchen while having fun with the color.​“”

Pay attention to gaps

“When I saw the rendering of the cupboards, it looked far too heavy. Even if it cost us a storage space, we added a little open shelves to break things.”

Mix and match

“Each space that I understand must have at least two types of metals. I will never do brass or polished nickel.

Become natural

“I like to use natural materials as much as possible,” explains Lee, who chose slate for the ground and marble for the meters and the backsplash. ​“There is no prettier material than marble, and it is a very affordable type called Bianco Carrara.”

Hide the devices

“A small kitchen can feel a quick appliance. Sotck exchange The devices help to fight against this, which is worth it. »»

A luxury touch

“Instead of a traditional toe kick, we opted for a furniture style base, which makes everything much higher and personalized.”

Integrate the texture

To balance the many smooth surfaces, Lee has chosen catering chairs with woven seats and back. “They add texture, which is so important, and they pick up the heat of the ceiling beams.”